The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 2/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
The western towers opened with arches into the north and south and
central aisles (see Fig. 472), but only the north tower retains its
massive pier and arches. Of the south tower nothing but the foundation
of the pier exists.
[Illustration: FIG. 471.--Arbroath Abbey. Plan of Gallery over West
Doorway.]
The south wall of the transept (see Fig. 464) is comparatively plain on
the outside, merely the upper part being visible above the dormitory
roof. The façade presents two plain lancet windows, one very much
shorter than the other to admit of the before-mentioned roof, and above
the lancets a large wheel window occupies the gable. The interior of the
transept (Fig. 473) is a very grand design in the early pointed style.
The lancets are splayed to a great width in the interior with banded
nook shafts on the sconsions, and arched above in the simplest manner
without any mouldings. Beneath the lancets there is a round arched open
arcade having a passage behind it, and beneath this two tiers of wall
arcades with pointed arches, the central arcade being very acutely
pointed, and the lower one not so decidedly pointed, and with trefoil
cusps in the arches. A staircase in the south-east angle of the transept
gave access to the dormitory by the door which is seen built up on the
outside (see Fig. 464). This staircase also leads to the various
passages in the thickness of the walls shown in Fig. 473. The doorway
leading from the church to this stair (Fig. 474) ranges with the lower
pointed arcade, and is round arched. The west return wall of the
transept is very bold and grand, as seen from the interior (see Fig.
473). The lower arcade of the south end is continued along the west
wall, and above this two
[Illustration: FIG. 472.--Arbroath Abbey. Interior of West End.
(From a Sketch by Mr. T. S. Robertson, Dundee.)]
windows widely splayed, and having nook shafts on the sconsions, rise to
a great height and are finished with moulded circular arches in the
interior and pointed lancets in the exterior. All the lofty windows in
the south transept have passages on two floors. The upper passage
running along this wall must have been connected with some kind of
bridge thrown across the windows. There are indications of rests for
beams doubtless connected with this arrangement, which would probably
[Illustration: FIG. 473.--Arbroath Abbey. Interior of South Transept.]
be of a temporary nature. The transepts had chapels on the east side.
The respond of the great arcade against the south wall (see Fig. 474) is
beautiful in detail. Above this there exist fragments of the responds
of
[Illustration: FIG. 474.--Arbroath Abbey. South-East Angle of South
Transept.]
the triforium story and the clerestory. All the above features of this
part of the abbey point plainly to its having some lingering remains of
transition style, retaining as it does some round arches along with the
general pointed features of the design.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account